Packers Will Miss Playoffs in 2008 Without Favre, But In Good Hands With Aaron Rodgers
I will be the first to admit that my heart broke that early March morning as I was eating my Frosted Flakes.
I was sitting in the cafeteria just like any other morning when I heard the news that my beloved quarterback, Mr. Brett Favre, was finally handing in his papers and retiring from good ol’ Green Bay. We’ve heard it before, of course. It seems like he teased us every offseason with his inability to make a decision. To stay or to go? Of course to stay. Always to stay.
With a miraculous 13-3 season (with, miraculously, two of the losses coming to Chicago), an NFC North win, and an appearance in the NFC Championship game, there was no doubt in my mind that he would be coming back. Sure, he’s been in the league for 17 years. Sure, splitting up his family between the Midwest and Mississippi was killing him slowly in ways we could never understand. Sure, his last pass of the season 
happened to be a gut-wrenching interception. But with all those negatives, I honestly thought the positives made the situations worth fighting through.
Many said he was washed up, took too many risks, and couldn’t lead such a young team anywhere except to the playground. He proved many of those nay-sayers wrong, with the exception of the risk thing. My breathing always stopped and my heart constricted when he lofted the ball toward the endzone, fearing the interception that came all too often. But he drove through the season, managed a spectacular core of WRs and TEs, and reminded fans of the reasons why we love our team so much.
Without Favre returning for the next season, the hopes of the Green Bay fans for another playoff run rested on the shoulders of Aaron Rodgers. I, for one, did not think he was up the challenge. I didn’t think he had the leadership skills or the talent to lead my Packers in their battle for victory. Of course I was a bit biased. Brett Favre came to Green Bay from Atlanta in 1992. I was only 3 years old at the time, so he was really the only Green Bay quarterback that I’d ever known. I was very reluctant to let Aaron Rodgers prove me wrong.
He did prove me wrong, however. I’ve never been more happy to be wrong. Despite some inconsistency with regards to 2-minute drives in crucial situations, he has been what Green Bay needs to help keep our team glued together.
Loading ...Aaron Rodgers is a decisive quarterback in the pocket with good instincts. My heart doesn’t leap into my throat quite as often as it used to when he drops back to throw deep to Driver or Jennings. I am beginning to trust him to make the right decisions and to make smart plays with the ball. Sure, it can’t be like that all of the time, and it certainly hasn’t, but I no longer cringe when I see him under center. I no longer think the words “glass bones†when someone mentions his name. I am astonished that he played through his shoulder injury and admire him even more for dealing with not only that, but also all of the criticism he h
as received for taking over for a legend.
With our disappointing loss to Carolina yesterday, the playoffs will be a goal for next season. As saddened as I am about that fact, I have hope. His name is Aaron Rodgers. He has shown that he is capable of handling this team and can lead it in a positive direction.
I knew that we wouldn’t have another 13-3 season with a first year quarterback who rarely saw playing time during his 3 years since being drafted. We all hoped that a miracle would happen, but realistically we knew it wasn’t meant to be. Aaron Rodgers may not be the type of quarterback that Brett Favre continues to be with the Jets (so much for retiring), but Rodgers has his own style that works for him, and more importantly, works for the team.
Green Bay will never forget what Brett Favre has done for us, but now we have an opportunity to appreciate what Aaron Rodgers will give us to remember.
Tags: aaron rodgers, brett favre, Green Bay Packers, NFL
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Stephanie, great first article.
I have heard so many Packers fans bemoan the loss of Brett Favre, and who have seemed to not even give Aaron Rodgers a chance. This is understandable in a way, given how the whole Favre controversy went down in the off-season.
But the more you look at it, even with Favre’s success in NY this year, it is hard to argue that the Packers are setting themselves up better for the long-term by turning the team over to Rodgers this year. And I don’t necessarily buy the argument that the Packers sacrificed this season. The fault for their 5-7 record lies more with the defense than with Rodgers. If the Packers D had played this poorly last year, Favre would not have been able to lead them to a 13-3 record.
Something tells me the Packers might be one or two games better with Favre this season, but they are not playing championship defense. Would you really want to sacrifice a year of development with Rodgers for another season that likely would not have ended in a Super Bowl?
It’s a tough situation, no doubt. But watching this season unfold, I think the best decision was made for Favre, Rodgers, and the Packers. And 5-7 does suck, but Packers fans need to look on the bright side: at least you aren’t Browns fans!
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stephaniehartwig Reply:
December 1st, 2008 at 4:26 pm
I completely agree with you about the Favre/Rodgers thing. (which seems almost obvious) Sure that intercepted pass yesterday that sealed the Panther’s victory was all on Rodgers, but we wouldn’t have been in such a tight situation if our defense just pulled themselves together. Our rush D is definitely not where it should be.
I think it’s good that we’re starting to build our team around Rodgers. We always knew that eventually he’d take over for Favre, and after my minor breakdown back in March, I’m completely fine with it. I think he’s a good fit for our team. He’s not as much of a gun-slinger (what does that mean, by the way? who would want to sling a gun? I don’t think that I ever would) as Favre, but that’s a good thing. We need someone relatively consistent.
I have high hopes for next season. It’s looking good.
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I have to laugh at that photo, though. It almost looks like Aaron Rodgers is a frontman for a cover band and Brett Farve is putting a line on a hot girl in the front row saying, “Hey, I’m with you babe.”
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Front man for a cover band? How about a Grammy-winning, multi-platinum, one-time Christian rock band that is currently defunct (I think) because of their frontman’s ego and substance abuse.
I am, of course, speaking of Creed…and it’s frontman — Scottaaron Stapprodgers:
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Stephanie,
I enjoyed your first article. In Brownstown we are dealing with the news that Derek Anderson will be down and out for the season just one week after Brady Quinn’s fractured finger put him out of action.
However, at 5-7, aren’t you being a bit too optimistic about the powers or even potential power of Aaron Rogers? And how do you feel about Brett Favre taking the J-E-T-S Jets into a playoff berth?
Yes, Rogers waited his turn and has turned in some good games, but it is not just the leadership of Favre that he lacks. It is Brett’s passion, his drive and the ability to inspire the men around him to play better.
Favre also has a short memory, something I wish the Browns Quinn would adopt. What I mean is, Favre can be intercepted several times, yet still believe in himself and his team ability to come back and win.
That is priceless.
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stephaniehartwig Reply:
December 1st, 2008 at 9:43 pm
I don’t think I’m being too optimistic about Rodgers. After all, our main struggle this season has been our defense not our offensive. I feel that for a first year quarterback Rodgers is showing a lot of promise and I do feel that he can be the leader our team needs.
I don’t think that anyone has the passion that Brett has, but I do feel that Rodgers can inspire confidence in the rest of the team. It just might take a while for it to take root.
And even though 5-7 is a fairly dismall record, considering several of our losses were by 4 points or less, I’m just counting myself lucky that I don’t cheer for Detroit.
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Stephanie,
I see what you mean. With the Browns at 4-8, the Packers’ 5-7 look good.
And yes, I am thankful I am not a Lions fan — or Bungals fan, either!
But losing by only four points is still a loss — and a more painful loss than to get blown out. Take it from a Browns fan who watched the Browns lose many a game because they could not score from the Red Zone.
In fact, the Browns offense hasn’t scored a touchdown in the last two games. The depression still has not lifted after losing 10-6 to the Colts. Four more points would have tied the game and the Browns would have had a shot of winning in overtime.
And what about those come from behind wins from back to back opponents, Baltimore and Denver? Four more Browns points could have led to wins in those two games. Come to think of it, four more points would have led to a win in Washington.
So if the Browns scored four more points, Cleveland’s record could be 8-4 and we could be tied with Baltimore as Pittsburgh goes up against the Giants.
Dream on!
Yes, I know. It is getting late even for the Midnight Writer.
Go Browns!
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